Concrete-mixer water-supply means



Nov. 19, 1929. F. H. HEINE 1,736,744

CONCRETE MIXER WATERVSUPPLY MEANS FiledFeb. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 19, 1929. F. H. HEINE 1,735,744

CONQRETE MIXER WATER SUPPLY MEANS Filed Feb. 1, 1928 i 2 sheets-sheet 2 F.H.Heine Eil Patented Nov. 19, 192.9

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice FERDINAND H. REINE, 0F MILWAUKEE, wiscoNsiN, AssIeNoa 'ro knn-RING" domrANY, or MILWAUKEE, wiscoNsiN, A CORPORATION! ooNenE'iE-iviixiimv WATER-SUPPLY MEANS ApplicationAV filed February Modern developments in concrete mixers or paving machines are becoming more and more directed to the feature of expeditiously charging the solid aggregates andi water into a mixing drum so that they all are completely inside the drum when the mixing period commences. Carrying out this idea, certain types of water tanks have been designed to force the water into the mixing drum under pressure, such as the water tank disclosedk in the patent to Lichtenberg, 1,523,548. A more common practise is to avail of a head of water engendered by the positioning of the water tank a substantial distanceabove the point of discharge into the miiing drum for the necessary pressure. In substantially all of the water pipe tanks of this nature in practical use, the well known three-way valve construction is employed for filling and discharging` the tank, the water being supplied thereto under pressure.

I propose by this invention to avail of the pressure of the infiowing water t'o store up energy that later provides pressure under which the water in the tank will be discharged therefrom. In this manner discharging actions of the tank are rendered positive and efficient to a high degree. Furthermore, the

embodiment of my invention' in a concrete mixer obviates the necessity of positioning the water tank a substantial distance above the pointJ of discharge of water therefrom into the mixing` drum which at times has been found to be an unsatisfactory condition. My water tank functions with proper results when positioned below the point of discharge of the water into the m`xing drum. Carrying out my idea more specifically, a water tank made in accordance with my invention may compi'ise a tank in which operates a piston element. The water is forced into the tank under pressure which causes movement of the piston, which movementis resistedby an appropriate energy storing mechanism. Positive means for limiting movement of the piston is also provided so that a certain predetermined quantity of water is contained in the tank and later discharged into the mixing drum.

A particularly noteworthy feature of thisA 1, 1928. Serial N'o. 251,190.

n ting the position of the means for limiting the movement of the cylinder' whereby variation in the capacity of the tank is afforded.

Still another object of' the invention is to provide ineansfor a'djustin'gy the amount of' pressure that will be supplied by the energystoring means so that the pressureunder which the'water is forced: into the tank may b e varied in accordance" with certain conditions such as capacity and position' ofthe tank, andthe time in which. it is. desired.y to

discharge the water into the drum.. A pre` sure of the inflowin'g water, gravity' action supplied by the weighted` piston causes down'- ward movement of the latter to expel the wa -y ter from the the tank under pressure. Itis obvious that variations in thepressurem'ay be obtained by changes inthe weights carried by the piston.

f ntion is the provisionv ofm'ean's for ad` Carrying out the thought of supplying thev water in the drum under pressure in a somewhat modiied manner, I may a-Vailof a water tank the capacity of which is variable incie dent to loa ig movement ofA a` charging means on a mixing drum, the said charging movement also providing the pressureunder which the water is expelled from-the tank.

minimum and maximum capacities. The tank is expanded by the pressure of the inflowing" water which` expanding motion is limited by stopping elements which may be adjusted which provide the desired maximum containing` power of the tank. The invention. may include further and more detailed objects and advantages, such` as locking means for maintaining constanty the quantity of water discharged by the tank,

as will in part become apparent and infpart be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

For a full and more complete understanding thereof, reference may be had to 'the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- VFigure 1 is a view in end elevation, somewhat diagrammatic, showing my novel water tank applied to a paving machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail showing of an embodiment of my invention in a water tank construction, parts being broken away and shown in section to more clearly bring out certain details.

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2 of a modification of a tank, in which the discharging operation thereof is rendered incident to operation of a charging means of a mixing drum.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional showing somewhat fragmentarily the sealing means between piston and water tank.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the mechanism for adjusting the positionfof the limiting means.

Figure 6 is a view of another modification, in which the tank is adapted to assume a hori- Zontal position.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view in section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Vhile a preferred form of the invention is herein set forth, it is to be understoodthat l am not to be limited to the eXactconstruction illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be prowater therefrom passes into the drum A. My

novel water tank is designated generally by the reference character C and is connected by the pipe line 2 with a three-way valve 3. A main supply line 4 is also in connection with the three-way valve so that the latter may be operated either to supply water from the line 4 to the tank C or permit water in the tank C to pass through the lines 2 and 1 into the drum A. The particular construction of the three-way valve is old and well known and plays no part in this invention. Such a valve is shown in the patent to Lichtenberg, 1,525,100.

The water tank C comprises a main casing 5 which is adapted to be positioned verticali and has an opening 6 in the bottom thereof by which it is in communication with the pipe line 2, which last named element may constitute a support for the tank. If it is desired, the-line 2 may be tapped at 7 and provided with a valve 8 that is operable to drain the Huid from the tank. At its upper end the casing 5 is open and receives therein a hollow piston member 9 which is adapted to reciprocate in the casing 5. The upper end of the piston 9 is provided with a head 10 having diametrically opposite ears 11. The ears 11 are slotted at 12 and receive nut elements 13, the peripheries of which are provided with grooves 14 complemental to worms 15 and adapted for cooperation therewith. Worms 15 are carried by the shaft 16 on one end of which is an operating member in the form of a hand wheel 17. Hand wheel 17 may be provided with openings 18 which are adapted to receive a locking bail that will also pass through the opening 12 in one of the ears 11 to lock the hand wheel against rotation.

Stems 19 pass through threaded bores in the nut elements 13 and also through openings in the ears 11, there being an operative screw thread connection between the nuts and stems so that rotation of the members 13 will imp art longitudinal movement to the stems 19.v The lower ends of the stems 19 are provided with heads 2O which adapt them to carry weighting elements in the form of rings 21. Obviously as many of the rings 21 may be employed as the occasion demands and these rings may be of any material or size desired. The upper end of the casing 5 terminates in a flange 22. The upward movement of the rings 21 is limited by the fiange 22 which necessarily limits the upward movement of the piston 9.

For providing a fluid tight seal between the piston 9 and casing 5,1 avail of the following structure. The inner surface of the casing is provided with a flange 23 which supports thereabove a packing ring 24. A packing gland 25 is carried by the iiange 22 through any suitable medium such as the nut and bolt arrangement at 26 that functions to maintain the packing ring 24 in engagement with both the casing 5 and piston 9. The piston together with the structure it carries may be provided with a protective covering 27 that keeps out all foreign matter. This cover 27 has a suitable opening through which the shaft 16 projectsvin order to provide accessi-V bility for the hand wheel 17.

It is believed that the operation of the device as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings is made apparent by the above description; however, the operation is briefly as follows: Water admitted through the lower end of the casing will cause the piston 9 to rise until the limit capacitj)7 as set by the adjustment of the members 19 as above described, has been reached. The water may be held in the tank until it is desired to use the same whereupon the three-way valve at 8 may be turned so as to permit the discharge thereof into the mixing drum A, through the pipe 1, and into the opening B. .The opening of this4 valve will permit the piston 9 to gravitate to the bottom of the casing 5 under the influence of the weights 21 attached to the lower ends of the stems 19. The adjustment of these stems is accomplished in the manner as set forth above by means of the worms and worm wheels respectively on the shaft 16 and on the stems 19.

Referring now to Figure 3, a modified form of water tank is disclosed which is automatically operable to discharge the water therefrom incident to charging movement of means for charging solid aggregates into a mixing drum. In this form the water tank comprises the telescoping parts 2'?2L and 28. The capacity of these combined parts is varied by movement of the member 28 which is caused by the winding up of a cable 29 on a drum 30 suitably mounted on a driving shaft 31 included in the driving mechanism of the charging means. The line 29 passes around a sheave 32 and has one end made fast to a stationary element at 33. Relative movement y,

between the components 27a and 28 is limited in a collapsed direction by the ends of the parts themselves while expanding movement is limited by stems 34 carrying nuts 35 against which an external flange 36 on the part 28 is adapted to abut to limit its downward movement. Obviously the nuts may be adjusted to vary the limit of the expansive move ment of the tank. Packing means between the parts 27L and 28 may be provided which is similar to the packing element shown at 23, 24 and 25 and is designated in Figure 3 by the reference character 37. The tank will always contain an amount of water sufficient to fill the minimum capacity thereof and the entrance of additional water under pressure into the tank will cause expansion thereof, which movement is limited by the apparatus aforesaid. Upon operation of the charging means to load aggregates into the mixing drum, a cable 29 is taken up which causes upward movement of the part 28 which movement i entails a decrease in the capacity of the tank thereby forcing the water contained therein from the tank under pressure. As previously mentioned, the operation of the tank is interrelated with the operation of a three-way valve shown at 3. The water discharged from the tank upon each cycle of operation will be equal to the difference between the minimum and maximum capacities thereof.

Any of the forms of water tank herein described may include suitable indicia to indicate the amount of water to be discharged therefrom as shown in Figure 2 at 38. The foregoing tanks are more peculiarly adapted for operation in avertical position and in Figure 6 I show a modification which is capable of operation while in a horizontal position. In this form I avail of substantially the same tank structure as shown in Figure 2 but instead of weighting the piston I avail of springs 39 for storing up energy during expanding movement of the piston under pressure of the inflowing water, which energy causes water to be expelled from the tank under pressure. In this instance outward movement of the piston is limited by a ring 40 in conjunction with an abutment 41 Carried by sleeves 42 and stems 43 which are threaded in the rings 40. A hand wheel apparatus similar to that previously described is operable to cause rotation of the stems 43 which impart longitudinal movement of the ring 40 to vary the limit of movement of the piston. As in the previous modifications, sealing means between the piston and casing is inluded in the tank structure and is shown at The form of tank shown at Figure 6 is adapted for operation in any position not necessarily the horizontal although if the tank is to assume a vertical position, I prefer to use one of the forms previously described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent in the United States, is

1. lVater tank apparatus of the class described, comprising, in combination, a pair of casings, one of which serves as a piston movable inside of the other casing, sealing means between said casings for providing a fluid-tight relationship at all times between the piston casing and the other casing, means for limiting the movement of the piston casing in both directions with respect to the other casing, and means to adjust the position of one of the limiting means whereby the capacity of the tank is rendered variable.

2. A water tank of the class described, comprising, in combination, two casings having one end closed, the open end of one casing being slidable into the open end of the other casing, thereby forming an expandible and contractable tank, the tank being expanded by the flowV of a fluid thereinto, variable means for limiting the expansion of the tank, and means for contracting the tank thereby forcing part of the fluid therefrom, said last named means comprising a sheave rotatably mounted on one of said casings, a cable passing thereover, whereby a movement of the cable causes a. contraction of the tank and means for moving said cable.

3. A water tank of the class described, comprising, in combination, a cylinder, a portion outstanding therefrom, a piston in the cylinder, lugs on the piston, threaded rods carried by said lugs, and means on the rods for abutting the outstanding portion of the cylinder to limit relative movement of the piston and cylinder, said means being adjustable in respect to the lugs for varying the limit of movement between the piston and cylinder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FERDINAND H. HEIN E. 

